Drive or Fly: Charlotte, TN to Memphis, TN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BNA–MEM. At 183 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 31m

Distance

183.4 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 29m

20m in the air

Air Distance

168 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

43 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, TN → BNA 56m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEM → Memphis, TN 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Charlotte, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

Memphis, TN MEM — Memphis International Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BNA and MEM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 31m	3h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$127
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	43 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Charlotte, TN to Memphis, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.